Circuit closer



May 10, 1927.

J. w, DAVIS CIRCUIT CLOSER Filed Oct. 12, 1925 Mm W INVENTOR WITNESS:

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Patented May 10, 1927.

JOSHUA DAVIS. 01? SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA.

CIRCUIT CLOSER.

Application. filed October 12,

This invention relates to circuit closers and has for its object the provision oi a novel combined horn button and switch designed to be mounted upon the steering wheel or other convenient portion of a motor vehicle and operable to effect energization of the horn and to control the energization of the headlights and tail light, the advantage being that the entire control is located at one point within instant reach ol the operator so that there will be no necessity for removing the hands from the steering wheel to sound the horn or to dim or brighten the lights as occasion may arise.

An important object .is to provide a device of this character which is so constructed as to be mounted upon the steering wheel in a very simple manner, the device itself being inexpensive to make, one to install, positive and convenient in action, ellicicnt and durable in service, and a general improvement in the art.

Vith the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a steering wheel with the invention in applied position,

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure at is a vertical cross sccti on taken on the line 47-4 of Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the letter A designates a portion of a steering wheel including the usual. hub B, spokes C and rim D.

In carrying out the invention I provide a support designated generally by the numeral. 10, which support is here shown as inehuling a. disk 11 adapted to be secured upon the hub portion. of the wheel as for instance by means of screws 12. The disk carries a. hollow member 13 within which is telescopically engaged a. casing member oi: terurinating in a curved extension 15 engaged partially about the wheel rim 1) in conl'orming engagement therewith. This telescopic casing member constitutes a housing tor the member 16 which comprises all the wires leading to the battery, or other source of current, the headlights, the tail light; and

1925. Serial No. 62,133".

These various articles are not .Gllll the horn. shown as they form no part of the pr invention.

illountcd upon the casing lflis a cylilulrh cal casing l7 :l'ormed in one side with a slot 18. Secured within the lower portion of this casing 17 a disk or other support l9 of insulating material. Carried by this disk member .19 are metallic contacts 20, 21, 22 and 23 which may, in actual practice, consist simply of screws having conoaved heads countersunk in the disk so as to be located at a lower plane than the surface thereof for areason which will be hereinafter made ap parent. The various screws carry binding nuts 2% which provide means for connection of the wires therewith. Connected with the screw is a wire 25 for supplying current to the headlights and connected with the contact 21 is a wire 26 for feeding current to the headlights through a suitable interposed resistance, not shown, whereby the headlights may be dimmed. Both of the contacts 22 and 23 are connected with a wire 27 which leads to the tail light.

Rotatably mounted within the upper portion of the casing 17 is a disk 28 of insulating material carrying an operating handle 29 movable along the slot 18. On the underside of this disk 28 is secured a metallic ring 30 formed with projections 31 and 32 adapted to be brought selectively into ongagement with the contacts 22 or 223 and 20 or 21. It might also be mentioned that the disk 19 is formed with. depressions 33 and 3% adapted to receive the humps or projectionsSl and 32 respectively. The metallic ring 30 is formed with an inwardly projecting extension 85 carrying a binding screw 36 with which connects a wire 37 leading to the storage battery or other source of current.

Formed in the center o i the rotatable disk 28 is a recess 38 at the center of which is mounted a contact 39 with which is con nected a wire 40 leading to the horn, not

Shown. Urnmected and secured by the above descril'ied screw 36 and mounted upon the extension 35 is a movable spring contact 41. normally spaced away from the contact 39 and engaged by a push button 42 which is slidably mounted through an opening 4.3 in the top of the casing 17. this push button having an outstanding flange 4L4 preventing it From withdrawal.

In. the operation of the device it will be llli seen that regardless of the position of the rotary dish .23 the application of pressure upon the hutton will Ck nee the contact ll to engage the contact 39 for eosing the circuit tlll'tlllgll the horn. It all the lights on the car are to he in the o'l'l position. the handle :39 is grasped and moved to rotate the disk 28 into such position that the projections 31 and 3f. on the hand or ring 30 will he engaged within the depressions ill and 'll respectively. it the operator wishes to energize the headlights diui. he grasps the handle 29. or pushes it with his thumb. or otherwise moves it from the ahove descrihed otl positiin into such position that the projtn-tions Ill and 32 will he engaged respectively with the contacts 23 and 21. the toriner permitting current to pass to the tail light and the latter closing the circuitthrough whatever resistanc isprovided and to the haullights. If it is desired that the head ights hnrn lx-rightlv, the operator moves the handle '2? still further to bring the projections 81 and 2-32 into engagement with the contacts 22 and ill respective v. in either of liese two last na'ined positions it is clear that the tail light will he energiztal.

From the foregoing description and a study oi the drawings it will he apparent that l have thus provided a ver v siinpiv constructed and inexpensive circuit closer adapted to he nio inted upon a steering wheel. in such position as to he within convenient reach of the operator at all times. both the horn hutton and light contro. switch heing in such position as to he operated by the thumh without removal of the hand from the wheel. thus making driving safer and more convenient. It is helieved that the constrijietion. ope 'ation and advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art without further explanation.

\Vhile 1 have shown and described a pretion, and arrangement ol parts as will not;

depart 'l'roin the spirit of the invention or the scope olthe suhjoined claim.

i-laving thus descrihed the. invcution, I claim:

in a circuit closer. a support. a casing ca ried In' said support. a st: iionarv nieniher of insulating mater alv disposed in said casing. a clrcu n'l'erential series ot contacts carried hv said stationary insulating ineinher anal counter-sunk therein in a manner to he spaced helow the surface thereof. a rotatable disl; nieniher of insulating material mounted within the asing, an operating handle laterally extending theretroi'n and through a slot in the side of said casing. a metallic ring secured on the underside of said. rotata le dish member and haringdownwardly extending projections adapted to he hronght into engagement with selected ones of said contacts. said casing having its top 'l'ornied with an opening. said rotatable disk n1eniher heing provided with a recess with the edge of the basing at the ()l'KJllDtI overhanging the recess. a central contact secured to said rotatahle disk nienihe' and arranged in said recess. an inwardly projecting extension formed on the metallic ring. an additional landing post carried hy the extension and arranged in spaced relation to the central contact. a spring cont: ct secured to said ad ditional hinding post and arranged within the recess. a. flanged push hntton slidahly mounted in the recess with its flange engageahle with the overhanging portion of the casing. and said flange push hutt'on heing engageahle with the spring contact for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof l atlix my signature.

JOSHUA \V. DAVIS, 

